The University of Michigan wrestling team, ranked No. 10 nationally, is set to conclude its Big Ten schedule with two away matches this weekend. The Wolverines (8-4 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) will first face No. 7 Iowa (10-5, 3-3 Big Ten) on Friday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The match is scheduled for an 8 p.m. CT start and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. On Sunday, Michigan travels to Madison to compete against No. 21 Wisconsin (11-4, 3-4 Big Ten) at the UW Field House; that dual begins at 1 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on B1G+.
Michigan currently shares third place in the conference standings with Illinois, having lost only to top-ranked Penn State and second-ranked Ohio State.
The Wolverines have eight wrestlers who are nationally ranked in their respective weight classes according to InterMat rankings. Five are listed in the top 15: Lachlan McNeil (No. 13 at 149 pounds), Cameron Catrabone (No. 13 at 157), Beau Mantanona (No. 11 at 174), Brock Mantanona (No. 7 at 184), and Taye Ghadiali (No. 5 heavyweight).
Iowa comes into Friday’s matchup after a recent loss to Ohio State and a win over Michigan State last weekend. Nine Hawkeyes hold national rankings from InterMat, including six in the top ten such as Angelo Ferrari (No. 2 at 184), Michael Caliendo (No. 3 at 165), and Patrick Kennedy (No. 3 at 174). Historically, Iowa leads the series against Michigan with a record of 34-27-1 dating back to their first meeting in 1924; however, Michigan won their most recent encounter two seasons ago.
Wisconsin has seven wrestlers ranked nationally by InterMat, led by Braxton Amos who is No.9 among heavyweights. In all-time meetings between Michigan and Wisconsin since their first match-up in1924, Michigan holds a slight edge with a record of30-25-1 and has claimed victory in five of the last eight meetings.
Graduate student heavyweight Taye Ghadiali recently earned his eighth ranked win of the season by defeating Penn State’s Cole Mirasola and previously secured an overtime victory over Ohio State’s Nick Feldman—his third career win over Feldman out of four matches between them.Ghadiali now leads the team with a17–2 record this season including eleven bonus-point wins comprised of one fall,seven technical falls,and three major decisions.
Redshirt freshman Brock Mantanona notched his sixth ranked win by beating Ohio State’s Dylan Fishback earlier this month.His current season record stands at13–4 with eight bonus victories.He achieved his highest ranking yet—seventh—in InterMat’s latest update for184 pounds.
Beau Mantanona,a redshirt freshman,is15–5 for the year with nine bonus wins,four coming via pinfall.He owns two wins over top-ten opponents this season.
Together,the Mantanona brothers have combined for a27–9 record across adjacent weights for Michigan.
Cameron Catrabone,a redshirt freshman leading U-M with six pins this season,is5–1 within conference play following his first league defeat last weekend.Catrabone managed multiple takedowns against Penn State’s PJ Duke during that match.His father Jeff Catrabone,a three-time All-American for Michigan,set what was once U-M’s career pins record.
Graduate students McNeil and Dylan Ragusin are approaching career milestones:McNeil currently has93 wins while Ragusin sits at91 after six seasons competing for Ann Arbor.
Eight Wolverines have made debuts in the starting lineup during this campaign.Most recently,freshman Cooper Hilton won his only dual appearance,and Justin Gates stepped up following teammate Dylan Gilcher’s injury.Other newcomers include Gauge Botero,Eren Sement,and graduate transfers Diego Sotelo,Lachlan McNeil,Taye Ghadiali,and Walters—the latter making his varsity debut after overcoming injuries early in his college tenure.